The board of Yuexiu Property Company Limited (HKG:123) has announced that it will pay a dividend on the 21st of November, with investors receiving CN¥0.189 per share. This means that the annual payment will be 7.2% of the current stock price, which is in line with the average for the industry.
Check out our latest analysis for Yuexiu Property
Yuexiu Property's Earnings Easily Cover The Distributions
We aren't too impressed by dividend yields unless they can be sustained over time. Based on the last payment, Yuexiu Property was quite comfortably earning enough to cover the dividend. This means that a large portion of its earnings are being retained to grow the business.
The next year is set to see EPS grow by 40.1%. If the dividend continues on this path, the payout ratio could be 36% by next year, which we think can be pretty sustainable going forward.
Dividend Volatility
Although the company has a long dividend history, it has been cut at least once in the last 10 years. The dividend has gone from an annual total of CN¥0.33 in 2014 to the most recent total annual payment of CN¥0.268. This works out to be a decline of approximately 2.1% per year over that time. A company that decreases its dividend over time generally isn't what we are looking for.
Dividend Growth Potential Is Shaky
With a relatively unstable dividend, it's even more important to see if earnings per share is growing. Over the past five years, it looks as though Yuexiu Property's EPS has declined at around 11% a year. Dividend payments are likely to come under some pressure unless EPS can pull out of the nosedive it is in. Over the next year, however, earnings are actually predicted to rise, but we would still be cautious until a track record of earnings growth can be built.
Our Thoughts On Yuexiu Property's Dividend
In summary, dividends being cut isn't ideal, however it can bring the payment into a more sustainable range. The company is generating plenty of cash, which could maintain the dividend for a while, but the track record hasn't been great. We would probably look elsewhere for an income investment.
Investors generally tend to favour companies with a consistent, stable dividend policy as opposed to those operating an irregular one. At the same time, there are other factors our readers should be conscious of before pouring capital into a stock. Case in point: We've spotted 3 warning signs for Yuexiu Property (of which 1 is concerning!) you should know about. Looking for more high-yielding dividend ideas? Try our collection of strong dividend payers.
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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.
About SEHK:123
Yuexiu Property
Develops, sells, and manages properties primarily in Mainland China and Hong Kong.
Good value with adequate balance sheet.
